Advances Add Up For 3D Printing

Advances in processing, lower costs and improved performance could soon move 3D printing from prototyping to commercial production of aerospace and medical components.

HANK HOGAN, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, [email protected]

For additive manufacturing, aka 3D printing, 2016 could be a very good year. Some big names are entering the field, advances promise better processing and signs point to movement into the mainstream. At the same time, the industry is working on developing standards while continuing to lower cost and improve performance — thereby addressing issues that have hindered adoption of additive manufacturing. One result looks to be explosive growth. Titanium powder is a raw 3D printing material, and its consumption is a proxy for overall additive manufacturing activity. That appears strong, based on projections for the titanium powder market over the next decade. “That is about a 31.4 percent compound annual growth rate,” said Scott Dunham, senior analyst at SmarTech Markets, a 3D printing analysis firm. SmarTech Markets forecasts the titanium powder market will grow from $66 million worldwide in 2015 to $776 million by 2024. Titanium is favored in aerospace and medical applications, two areas willing to pay a premium to produce high-performing critical parts. This may be for orthopedic implants, aircraft support structures and engine components. GE, for instance, is making all-important fuel nozzles for its latest engines via additive manufacturing. What also sets medical and aerospace apart is that both are no longer interested in prototyping alone. “In medical, they’re printing a lot of parts for actual final use in patients. In aerospace, there’s an impressive number of parts that are scheduled for actual production in the coming months,” Dunham said. An indication of this increasing maturity can be found in what Siemens AG is doing. A diversified technology and manufacturing company, Munich-based Siemens makes, among other things, gas turbines. The company today uses additive manufacturing to create better and higher-performing burner tips for those turbines.

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Published: February 2016

Glossary

3d printing: 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing (AM), is a manufacturing process that builds three-dimensional objects layer by layer from a digital model. This technology allows the creation of complex and customized structures that would be challenging or impossible with traditional manufacturing methods. The process typically involves the following key steps: Digital design: A three-dimensional digital model of the object is created using computer-aided design (CAD) software. This...
siemens: The electric conductance of a conductor in which a current of 1 ampere is produced by an electric potential difference of 1 volt.
additive manufacturing: Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, is a manufacturing process that involves creating three-dimensional objects by adding material layer by layer. This is in contrast to traditional manufacturing methods, which often involve subtracting or forming materials to achieve the desired shape. In additive manufacturing, a digital model of the object is created using computer-aided design (CAD) software, and this digital model is then sliced into thin cross-sectional layers. The...
polymerization: Process of synthesizing long molecular chain materials (polymers) by reaction of many small molecules (usually thousands) called monomers.

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